Trailer-steering device



. 9, 1930. L. E. WILLIAMS TRAILER STEERING DEVICE Filed JaII. s

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Patented Dec. 9, 1930 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEROY E. WILLIAMS, F EDGERTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HIGHWAY TRAILER 7 COMPANY, OF EDGERTON, WISCONSIN, A'COR-PORATION OF WISCONSIN TRAILER-STEERING DEVICE Application filed January 3, 1927. Serial N0. 158,505.

This invention relates to trailer vehicles of the type in which the rear wheels are dirigibly mounted so that in backing the trailer in close quarters it is possible to effect the steering, in part at least, by manipulation of these rear wheels; and the object of the invention isto provide safe and positive steering connections for this purpose, It consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat fragmentary side elevation of a trailer fitted with steering connections embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a topplan view showing one end of the trailer and its steering connect-ions.

Figure 3 is a detail section taken as indicated at the line, 3 3, on Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail section taken as indi (rated at line, H, on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 3,

. showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

In using a trailer having dirigible rear wheels, it is frequently necessary to back the vehicle into a door-way or through a narrow alley, and for accurate steering it is desirable to adjust the dirigible rear wheels while the vehicle is moving. Heretofore it has been I customary to insert a short tongue or bar into the usual coupling fitting at the rear of the vehicle so that a man standing directly behind the trailer may manipulate the wheels, but this involves considerable hazard in that the truck driver cannot see the man at the rear of the trailer so that if he should stumble, he might fall under the trailer wheels or he might be caughtbetween the rearend of the trailer and a building wall or bethrown to one side if one wheel of the trailer should strike an obstacle or obstruction so as to suddenly swing the tongue or steeringv bar forcibly to one side. The present inventlon provides steering means accessible at the side of the trailer so that the man operating it is in sight of the truck driver and is not in a position of danger to himself. For purposes ofillustration the trailer chassis shown in the drawings is simi ar to that of 1926, to Charles G.-Glement, and consists of a main frame, 1, having swiveled sub-frames, 2, at each end to whichthe vehicle springs, 3, are shackled in. association with the usual axles, 4, and wheels, 5. The swivel connec tlon is of the fifth wheel typecomprising an upper ring, 6, secured to the frame, 1, and a lower ring, 7 attached to the sub-frame, 2, in a well understood manner.

Atthe outer end the sub-frame, 2, carries fittings having upwardly-open sockets, 8, to

receive connecting elementsof a draw-bar, 9, as more specifically descr1bed 111 said Clement Patent No. 1,611,889. When in use the draw swivel under control of the draw-bar, 9, shown in position at the right-hand end of Figure 1. However, when 1t is desired to back the trailer 8 and utilize the steering movement of the rear wheels, the locking arms, 10, may be swung down out of engagement with the block, 11," as shown in Figure 2, by operating the handle,

12, which is provided on the rock shaft which carries the arms, 10.

Steering adjustment of the sub-frame, 2, and the wheels, 5, connected to it, is now se curedthrough the agency of a toothed segment, 18, attached to the forward side of the sub-frame, 2, and adapted to mesh with an operating worm, 14, on a transverse shaft, 15,

whose squared end, 16, is designed to receive" an operating hand crank, 17. The shaft, 15,

i is journaled in a yoke, 18, with the worm, 14,

positioned between the arms of the yoke, and said yoke is secured to a bar, 19, extend-c ing across the vehicle under the frame, 1.

The yoke and its bar, 19, are hinged to the under side of the vehicle at 2 0, and the yoke is formed with an arm, 21, having a slot, 22, to permit a limited swing of the yoke, about Patent No. 1,611,889, issued December 28,

' tion in which its enlargement, 26; 0'ccupiesthe its hinge pivot, 20, sufficient for engaging and disengaging the worm, 14, and the teeth of the gear segment, 13. The slot, 22, terminates in enlargements, 23 and 24, and embraces a rod, 25, carrying an enlarged middle portion; 26,wla ch is too large to pass thro h the middle portion of the slot, 22, but Will enter either of the enlargements, 23 and 24'.

By means of springs,,27, reacting betweenthe side bars ofwthe frame, :1, and, 001-. lars, 28, the rod, 25, is normally held in posisame vertical plane as the slotted arm, 21, so that when the arm is swung to its upper limit of adjustment the enlargement, 26, will enggage the openin 23, and-retain the parts in ha P sition. en it is desired'toshi'ft'the worm, 14, the, rod, 25 is moved laterally by {means of one'ior the other of the hand' loops,

,swingv into and mesh with the'segment, 13,

p 29, formed at its -ends,and the enlargement, 26, is thus withdrawn from. the opening, 23,

permitting the narrower portion of the slot, 22, to swing over the more slender part of the rod, With the: arrangement shown in Figure3 this will permit theworrn, 14, to

7 whereuponthe spring, 27 will force the enjlargelnent, 26,-into 'theopening, 24, and retain the worm gearing in mesh. For. swinging the. yoke, 18, the, cross bar, 19,'is fitted with handles, 30, accessible at the side of the vtrailer near the hand loops, 29, so that the operator may use one hand to release the locking member, 26, and then may swing the yoke. 18, with the other hand forengaging or: disengaging the worm and its gears With-the worm gear, 14, locked in mesh with the segment, 13,- the hand crank, 17, may

be used to turn the wheels, 5-, as desired, for

. steering, the trailer in the backing movement,

or in any other maneuvering of the vehicle. When this is completed and the trailer is to travel forward inthe normal manner, the

hand cra k 17, will'be used to adjust the subtrame, 2, into its central straight-ahead positiomand the locking arms, 10, will then be thrust up to engage the block, 11, forholding the parts so adjusted. The Worm, 14. can

be left inmesh, if desired, but when this end of. the vehicle becomes the-forward end with v the draw-bar mounted in the-sockets, 8, and

with the locking arms, 10, swung. downward- 1y out of engagement with theblock, 11, the ggment, 13, must be freedfrom the worm,

0 permit; proper-steering movement. of thewheels, 5, and this will be done simply by withdrawingthe locking bar, 25,.and swinging the yoke, 18, away from the segment, 13,

theamountpermittedbythe slot, and then ,allowmgthe. enlargement, 26, to enter are open ng, 23, at theend of the slotfor ldmg'rthe worm out ofmesh. position ofthe. parts is illnstratedin' the rightportion of. Figure, 1,. whilethe left- 'handportion shows the worm, 14, in meshed position withthe hand crank, 17, ready for use.

When it is desired to leave the wheels, 5, free for steering movement as controlled by a draw-bar, it may be thought safer to arrange the worm, 14, so that it'lcann'ot possibliy drop into mesh, even if the locking member, 26, should be momentarily released by vibration ea."- otherwise from the enlargement of Figure ishows a. modification in which the pivot, 20, on which the yoke, 1.8 and. its her, 19, are hinged, is located below the parts so that their weight tends to V swing'them away from the segment, 13, with the locking member, 26, engaging an enlargementin the upperend of the slot 22'. Gravity will thus 0 erateto holdthe worlrn outozf' mesh indepen ently of thelocking device,

while for placing the worm, 14, in operative position it is merely necessary-to swing the parts toward the segment, 13, moving the slot, 22, upwardly until its enlargement, 231', registers for" engagement with: the locking member, 26,. on the rod, 25.

1. In a trailer vehicle comprising a'ma-in frame, a sub-frame swivelly connected thereto, andwheels on the sub frame ad p ed'for steering movement by virtueof such swivel connection, manually operable steer-- ing connections accessible for manipiflation at the side o'f'tlie vehicle,"comprisinga 931 segment attached to the sub-frame, a s aft extending transversely on the main frame Qwith a worm adapted to-meshwi'tHsaid'seg ment, said shaft, being mounted 01- movement on the main frame toward and from the'subframe to carry the worm into-crow! of engagement with the segment. 1 1

2. In-a trailer vehicle comprisinga main frame, a sub-frame swivell y' connected thereto, and wheels on thesub-franieadapted for steering movement by" virtue'of such swi rel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at one side of the vehicle, com rising a segconnection, manually operable steeringcom. o

ne'ctions accessible for m'anipulsation at the side of the vehicle, comprising a" gear segment attached tothe, sub-frame, a shaflt extending transversely on the main frame with a worm adapted to mesh with said segment,

a bearing yoke for tlie shaft hinged to the frame at a distance from the shaft axis to permit swinging the worm into and out of engagement with the segment, together wit a rigid arm associated with said yoke, and locking means carried by the frame engageable with said arm at either limit of swing about the hinge for holding the parts positively in adjusted position.

a. In a. trailer vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame swivelly connected thereto, and wheels on the sub-frame adapted for steering movement by virtue of such swivel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at the side of the vehicle, comprising a gear segment attached to the sub-frame, a shaft extending transversely on the main frame with a worm adapted to mesh with said segment, a bearing yoke for the shaft hinged to the frame at a distance from the shaft axis, a

slotted arm associated with said yoke, its slot having enlarged portions at the ends, a rod slidable transversely in the frame and accessible at the side of the frame, said rod passing through the slot and having a part which is too large to enter said slot except at its enlarged end portions, whereby said part serves'to lock the'yoke at one or the other of its limits'of swing.

5. In a trailer vehicle comprising a main frame, a subframe swivelly connected thereto, and wheels on the subframe adapted for steering movement by virtue of such swivel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at the side of the vehicle comprising a gear segment rigidly attached to the subframe, a shaft extending transversely on the main frame with a worm adapted to meshwith said segment, a handle device provided for either end of the shaft at the outside of the frame, a bearing yoke for the shaft hinged to the frame at a distance from the shaft axis to permit swinging the worm into and out of engagement with the segment, said yoke normally tending to swing downwardly by gravity about said hinge connect-ion for carryirn the worm out of engagement with the segment, an arm associated with said yoke, and locking means carried by the frame engageable with said arm at either limit of swing about the hinge for holding the parts positively in adjusted position.

6. In a trailer vehicle comprising a main frame, a subframe swivelly connected thereto, and wheels on the subframe adapted for steering movement by virtue of such swivel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at the side of the vehicle comprising a gear segment rigidly attached to the subframe, a shaft extending transversely on the main frame with a worm adapted to mesh with said segment, a handle device provided for either end of the shaft at the outside of the frame,

a bracket depending from the frame, a bearing yoke for the shaft hinged to the bracket to permit swinging the worm into and out of engagement with the segment, the hinge connection being located below the shaft axis so that said yoke normally tends, to swing downwardly by gravity about said hinge for carrying the worm out of engagement with the segment, together with a rigid arm associated with said yoke, and locking means carried by the frame engageable with said arm at either limit of swing about the hinge for holding the parts positively in adjusted position. i

7. In a trailer vehicle comprising a main frame, asubframe swivelly connected thereto, and wheels on the subframe adapted for steering movement by virtue of such swivel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at the side of the vehicle, comprising a gear segment attached to the subframe, a shaft extending transversely on the main frame with a worm adapted to mesh with said segment, a bearing yoke for the shaft hinged to the frame at a distance from the shaft axis, a slotted arm associated with said yoke, its slot having enlarged portions at the ends, a rod slidable transversely in the frame and accessible at the side of the frame, said rod passing through the slot and having a part which is too large to enter said slot except at its enlarged end portions, whereby said part serves to lock the yoke at one or the other of its limits of swing, and yieldable means associated with said rod for holding its larger part normally in engagement with the slot.

8. In a trailer vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame swivelly connected thereto, and wheels on the sub-frame adapted for steering movement by virtue of such swivel connection, manually operable steering connections accessible for manipulation at the side of the vehicle, comprising a shaft extending transversely of the main frame, and cooperative gearing members including a gear segment attached to the sub-frame, and a worm on the shaft adapted to mesh with said gear segment, and means for shifting one of said gearing members out of operative engagement with the other.

LEROY E. WILLIAMS; 

